GAME REPORT

Three-Point Parade As Estu Come From Behind In Lithuania

Marlon Garnett, Iker Iturbe and Gonzalo Martinez all got hot from three point range on Tuesday to fire Estudiantes to an 81-72 EuroCup victory at Siauliai.

Estu made a scintillating 13 of 24 (54.1%) from the arc en route to their second triumph in as many Round II games.

The victory has put the Madrid side in excellent position to qualify for the quarter-finals, while Siauliai have slumped to 0-2 in Group I.

The Lithuanians must be wondering how this game turned sour for them. They led for most of the contest and appeared to be in command midway through the third quarter when Andrius Mazutis' three-ball extended their advantage to 57-48.

The Spanish outfit, as if they had just had a shot of caffeine, came to life.

Martinez and Iturbe struck from the arc, and then Martinez nailed two more consecutive threes to leave Estudiantes leading 60-57 at the end of the quarter.

Martinez finished with nine points and just the one miss from three pointrange.

After that explosion of three-balls, Siauliai trailed for the rest of the contest although Estudiantes did not run away with the victory.

Only when former Spanish international Iturbe's fourth straight three-pointer put Estu into a 74-66 lead with just under two minutes remaining did the visitors gain a firm grip on proceedings.

The hosts never got closer than five points for the remainder of the game.

Garnett, who was five of 10 (50%) from three-point range and eight of 13 (61.5%) overall, finished with a game-high 22 points.

Estu won decisively at home against DTL EKA AEL last week and then followed that up with a narrow triumph over ViveMenorca in Spain.

Tadas Klimavicius had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the hosts but his and Siauliai's woeful free throw shooting cost them dearly.

They were 12 of 22 (54.5%) for the game compared to 14 of 19 (73.6%) for Estudiantes, who also won the rebounding battle 36-29.